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I was a Mental Health Provider working for the VHA in Burlington, VT. The scheduling system is not the problem. The problem is simple. The need for care greatly exceeds the supply of providers. - Bob Landry

Legislative Priority Sheet 02-15-2013

February 15, 2013

The Current American Legion Legislative Policy Priorities in the 113th Congress

Protecting Veterans and DOD from the harmful cuts imposed through sequestration

The American Legion recognizes and supports the need for a fiscally responsible government, and looks forward to working with the new Congress to develop deficit reducing strategies that do not degrade the nation’s ability to defend itself, or further assault the earned benefits currently being received by our nation’s military veterans (H.R.55).

Mental Health Care

The American Legion is deeply concerned about access to quality mental health care for veterans.With unprecedented numbers of service members returning from Iraq and Afghanistan with TBI and PTSD a full 44% of veterans are not even accessing the VA for health care. The American Legion is concerned about these veterans falling through the cracks, especially as VA suicide reports estimate as many as 22 suicides a day in 2010.The American Legion urges Congressional oversight to ensure full staffing and funding of mental health programs, and increased reliance on other resources to aid veterans, such as Veteran Treatment Courts.

Oppose any further increases in TRICARE fees, including prescription drug fees

The American Legion stands strong against those who would dilute the promises made in the contract with those who serve in our nation’s defense. We strongly oppose any proposed degradation of the health care promised to retired service members when they enlisted through increases in fees for TRICARE For Life, increases in pharmacy co-pays or any further breaches of the contract of trust between this nation and those who have defended it.

Stolen Valor Act

In United States v. Alvarez the Supreme Court ruled the 2005 Stolen Valor Act was un-constitutional, yet left the door open for a more carefully tailored law to criminalize profiting from lies about military service.The American Legion supports legislation to restore the criminality of lying about military service and received decorations (H.R.258/S.210).

Claims Backlog

America’s veterans deserve better than a disability claims system mired in delays and backlogs, where over 69% of claims are delayed over VA’s target of 125 days to complete.The American Legion believes VA can only change the bureaucratic culture causing these delays by implementing a work credit system that places as much incentive on getting a claim done right the first time as it does on the raw volume of claims processed.

Disabled Veterans Tax/Widows Tax

VA disability compensation should not be offset from military retired pay regardless of the VA rating percentage, nor should VA survivor benefits (DIC) from military Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) annuities. The American Legion supports legislation that would completely repeal these unjust offsets (H.R.333/H.R.303/H.R.32).

DOL-VETS and TAP

The VETS program should be kept in its rightful place within DOL. DVOPs and LVERs should be solely focused on getting veteran’s jobs. Congress has already passed legislation to improve the Transition Assistance Program, but DOD is improperly executing it. The America Legion looks forward to working with Congress to ensure that TAP offers the services and information necessary for transitioning service members and veterans.

Small Business Verification

Businesses owned by veterans have earned the right to compete fairly through federal procurement. The American Legion calls on Congress to ensure that the federal government makes its 3% procurement goal for the first time in history, and demands that VA address and repair the current small business verification program.

End Veteran Homelessness

The American Legion strongly supports the Administration’s goal of eliminating veterans’ homeless-ness by 2015 and calls on Congress to pledge whatever resources are necessary to accomplish this goal, to include medical, rehabilitative and employment assistance to homeless veterans and their families (S.62/H.R.385).

Quality Education through Post 9/11 GI Bill

As one of the founding authors of the original GI Bill, The American Legion wants to protect our veterans with oversight that include provisions to evaluate post-secondary education institutions on quality factors such as accreditation, transferability, cost, graduation rates, and acceptance in the job market. State Approving Agencies should be returned their original power to protect the GI Bill along with adequate funding to execute their mandate. Student-veterans should be allowed in-state tuition rates regardless of residency status (H.R. 357/S.257).

Military to Civilian Credentialing

DOD spends a lot of money training our military. The skills learned need to directly translate to their civilian equivalent, and seamless certifi-cation is long overdue. Cooperation between The American Legion, state governments, private sector employers, institutions of higher learning and the federal government is essential to effect the necessary changes in policies and practices to fully recognize military education, training and experience. We encourage congressional offices to engage their state and local officials to address credentialing issues within their respective states.

The American Flag

The American Legion remains committed to protecting Old Glory, and continues to support legislation that safeguards our nation’s flag from physical desecration (H.J. RES.19).

sfret

How about Concurrent Pay. Why does everybody forget that hundreds of dollars of retirement pay is being held out of paychecks just because the retiree is less than 50% disabled. There is a dollar for dollar offset between the two.

jlodge

Our Military men and women are the best in the world and yet….Everyday America reads about another troubling incident, statistic or scandal involving the active duty military and or our veterans. The sexual assaults, the suicides, the backlog of benefits-all have sprung from our involvement in wars and conflicts that taxed our resources and our ability to recruit the best and the brightest. The past use of moral waivers, mental health waivers and criminal history waivers are surely responsible for the current exponential growth in assaults and suicides. The United States of American cannot afford to participate in unwinnable wars.

The sexual assault scandal is beyond its tipping point. We must remove a commander’s ability to conceal, override or ignore assaults and other crimes. Defense Department officials "are unwilling to consider taking military justice out of the chain of command because of a fear that it will erode order and discipline.” What order and discipline?
If we are going to continue have the best military in the world, we must change this culture of impunity. Most of America’s allied modern militaries — particularly Britain, Canada, Israel and Australia — operate systems in which prosecuting authorities make decisions about crimes. Isn’t it past time we take follow suit?

Regarding the suicides (22 every day) and backlog (almost 900,000)—isn’t it about time that Shinseki is separated from his job? Where is our leadership? Things are just not working out. Will you suggest to the President that the department needs a change?

soldierdown

I am active duty 20 years 3 combat tours numerous overseas missions. Med Board. Va has had paperwork for initial 199 since JAN. I have done everything to be pro active. Backlogged is not a reason its a Excuse. Put on your big boy pants, stop catering to investors and politicians and FIGHT!!! We are hurting.

soldierdown

JLOGE. I agree about the waiver part but its too late. No one cared then when we needed bodies but now you want to disrespect people who died for you who came in on a waiver? Check yourself. Don't be cheap. If we were to be judgmental and recruited according to high moral values we wouldn't have a military. There are bad apples everywhere, where you work and where you live. Im sorry but I find your comments very narrow minded and take away from the miniscule amount of people in this country who are ACTUALY WILLING to put there butt on the line for a country that wants to drag there feet compensating them.